Diary of Edward Bates, July 5, 1859

. . . For some days past, my sister¹⁸ has been in a very precarious condition — not sick with any painful disease, but being frequently taken with a difficulty of breathing, as if the lungs were too weak to clear the throat. I think it is but the weakness of old age, the natural decay of the organs. I should not wonder at her going off any hour.

As to me, I feel, tho' in perfect bodily health, an indolence and indecision not common with me. The cause, I fear, is the mixing up of my name in Politics. I am suffering a serious injury, professionally and perhaps, socially, by the many suggestions, in various parts of the country, to take me up as the Opposition candidate for the Presidency. The idea is presented in so many ways and sometimes in a shape so plausible, as to force itself upon my attention and withdraw my thoughts from other topics more practical and more necessary to my interests. A large section of the Republican party, who think that Mr. Seward's nomination would ensure defeat, are anxious to take me up, thinking that I could carry the Whigs and Americans generally, and thus ensure the Northern States and have a strong party in the border slave states, consisting of Whigs and Americans. I must try to resist the temptation, and not allow my thoughts to be drawn off from the common channels of business and domestic cares. Ambition is a passion, at once strong and insidious, and is very apt to cheet [sic] a man out of his happiness and his true respectability of character.

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¹⁸ Sarah Bates. Supra, May 8, 1859, note 47.

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, pp. 29-30

Diary of Edward Bates, Saturday, July 9, 1859

Sat (the 2d. time) to Mr. Cogswell¹⁹ the painter, for a portrait. Mr. C.[ogswell] seems to be an excellent artist : His picture of Joseph Charless²⁰ is to the life.

Mr. Woodson's²¹ daughters, Jennie and Nelly are here also Sally, Julian's wife —

This year, I have attended less than usual to the cultivation of the lot — The grapes have been a good deal neglected, not trained and pruned rightly. A great deal of the fruit has been destroyed by the rot, still, there is enough remaining for an ample family supply. Our supply of berries — goose — rasp and straw was scanty — Blackberries promising, not yet ripe.

I have a curiosity, in the shape of a Japan potato. A small piece was planted in April 1858, and grew feebly that year : Left in the ground last winter, It is now growing boldly, the vines (spiral like the hop,[)] runs [sic] on tall poles, and now I think, if stretched out straight, would be 20 feet long. It has a multitude of blooms, or rather buds, not expanded, on the upper part of the vine, and, on the lower part, at the foot stalk of the leaves, little round tubors [sic] or potato[e]s, now about the size of duck slot [sic]. . . .

I think the vine is as handsome as the Madeira vine, but not so odorous. The potato[e]s in the ground I cannot judge of till next fall.

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¹⁹ William Cogswell of New York lived and painted, at various times, in New York City. Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, and California. He did a Lincoln portrait and also the "President Grant and Family " of the National Gallery in Washington, and the portraits of Grant and of Chase in the Capitol.

²⁰ Supra, June 4, 1859, note 75.

²¹ A cousin of Mr. Bates whose mother was a Woodson. The Woodsons lived on Dardenne Prairie (infra, July 30. 1859, note 61).

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, p. 30

Diary of Edward Bates, July 14, 1859

Full moon last night — Good hope of rain for two days past — The Rain-Crows (or Cookoos) are croaking loudly this morning.

Jennie and Nelly Woodson still here — Kate Wilson came home with them last night [.]

We have workmen making sundry repairs about the house and outhouse— My contract is with George Full (a jobber) apparently a very respectable Englishman — a friend of Robt. Baker.

Note. Pd. Mr. Full, yesterday, $100, on a/c[.]

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, p. 30

Diary of Edward Bates, July 15, 1859

To day I paid Dr. [           ] Billingslea $5. for his medical attendance upon Lear (my mother's freed woman). He presented a bill stating Lear as my servant. I refused to pay the bill as a debt due by me, or to make myself, in any way liable for such claims, as there are now near 40 free negro[e]s emancipated by my mother and sister, but handed him $5. in acknowledgment of his kindness to Lear.

The National Intelligencer of July 12, contains various articles worth memory [.]

1. Botts'²² letter about the liability of naturalized citizens to compulsory military service — in condemnation of Sec.[retar]y. Cass' doctrine [.]

2 The "Mexican Question"²³ by Geo[rge] L. Stevens[.]

3. "MOBILRZATION"²⁴ — as applied to the Prussian Army. Explanation of the term — taken from a French Military Journal[.] <The term I think is also used in France, and, in its generic sense, means only — the common meaning of the word — the putting of troops in condition to move or march — E. B.> "In Prussia, says the Journal, the obligation of military service is incumbent on all." . . .

"The military system of Prussia rests upon an organization which divides the forces of that monarchy into two distinct armies: the one the army of the line, or regular troops: the other the army of the reserve, or the militia, who are called the landwehr, and which consists of the same men who, having passed through the army of the line, are subject to landwehr duty, from their 26th. [25th.] to their 32d. year[.]

Besides the landwehr, which is divided into [a] first and [a] second levy, there is also the Landsturm or general levy, which comprises men between the ages of 40 and 50 years."

4th. A curious snake story, which seems well: avouched — A man was bitten by a rattlesnake, spots appeared on him like the spots on the snake, and when he died (which was in a few hours) there was found on his person, an exact likeness of the snake — true as a degeurrotipe [daguerreotype] — extending from the wound, on the hand, up to the shoulder, and down the body, to the groin.²⁵

[Marginal] Note. Nov 20. 1859. A case fully as remarkable [sic][.]

A child of Dr. Nott of S. Carolina was killed by lightning last summer. A tree in the yard was struck at the same time, and upon the body of the child was found a miniature degurretipe [daguerreotype] picture of the tree, beautifully exact.

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²² John M. Botts of Virginia: Whig congressman, 1839-1843, 1847-1849; defeated Know-Nothing candidate for Congress in 1854; opponent of the "gag law" of 1836, of the annexation of Texas and the Mexican War, and of secession. On Virginia's withdrawal from the Union, he withdrew from public life, was imprisoned by the Confederacy but finally paroled, and later became a leading Conservative supporter of Johnsonian restoration policies.

²³ This appeared in the issue of July 11, not in that of July 12.

²⁴ This, too, appeared in the issue of July 11. And Mr. Bates has not quoted from it accurately.

²⁵ This, too, appeared in the issue of July 11, rather than that of July 12.

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, pp. 30-2

Diary of Edward Bates, July 16, 1859

Paid George Full $217.20 for divers repairs about the House and outhouse —

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, p. 32

Diary of Edward Bates, Sunday, July 17, 1859

Went to church and heard Mr. Davis preach quite a fluent and flow[e]ry discourse, on the parable of Dives and Lazarus[.]

Mr. Davis is a young man (of poor, respectable Welsh parents here in St Louis) Educated for the ministry, chiefly by contributions of the churches here. At the instance of our Pastor, Mr. Anderson,²⁶ just before his recent departure for Europe, the session of our church (in my absence) invited Mr. Davis to take Mr. A.[nderson]'s place and occupy our pulpit during his absence. Last Sabbath Mr. Cox²⁷ preached and administered the Lord's supper, while Mr. Davis only gave out a hymn.

Now, it is ascertained that Mr. Davis is not licenced to preach the Gospel, and therefore, notwithstanding the invitation, has no more authority in the pulpit than any other layman.

I have spoken to Mr. Bishop²⁹ about it, who seems to concur with me in the opinion that the proceeding is irregular and against the discipline of the church — He says that at the time the Session passed the invitation, they thought that Mr. D.[avis] was a licentiate. But I do not know that Mr. Bishop concurs with me in believing that the precedent thus set is dangerous. It is dangerous in many ways, and among others, in lowering the official standard of our ministers. Whoever begins by disregarding or dispensing with the known law, for convenience' sake or in respect of persons, will be easily tempted, for the same reasons, to make new law, equally without authority. I fear the consequences.

[Marginal Note.] Saturday, July 23d. I mentioned the subject to Revd. Mr. Brook[e]s,³⁰ of 2d. church, who admits that the proceeding is irregular and without law — but seemed to think that, under the circumstances, and Mr. D. [avis'] being a very clever young man, no harm would come of it &c[.]

I answered that it was dangerous to depart from the known laws of the church — When we begin to depart, there is no rule for stopping the departure. You dispense with one law to day; I with another tomorrow. And both of us, having assumed the dispensing power, will soon assume the power to make new law, to suit our convenience.

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²⁶ Samuel A. P. Anderson, Virginia-bred Presbyterian clergyman, pastor since 1851 of the Central Presbyterian Church.

²⁷ Probably Samuel H. Cox, Presbyterian clergyman; at this time, president of Ingham University for women, at Le Roy, N. Y.

²⁸ See infra, July 25, 1859. [Blog Editor’s Note: there is no anchor for this foot note in the text.]

²⁹ Daniel H. Bishop. See loc. cit.

³⁰ James H. Brookes, eloquent "premillenialist" minister of the Second Presbyterian Church, 1858-1865(?), and of the Compton Avenue Church, 1865-1897, editor of the St. Louis (Presbyterian) Truth, and author of several religious books.

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, pp. 32-3

Diary of Edward Bates, Monday, July 18, 1859

Attended the funeral of James. H. Bacon (who died suddenly Saturday night) at the Union Presbyterian church. My wife, and daughter Matilda attended the body to Bellefontaine Cemetery, but I did not, having business at the Office.

. . .

Several persons lately have died of sun stroke [.]

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, p. 33

Diary of Edward Bates, Tuesday, July 19, 1859

Attended the funeral of Mrs. Asa Wilgus from Christ's Church to Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Very hot and dusty, but a brisk breese.

See hack 6. pages. — This evening I recd, the National Intelligencer of the 16th. July, which contains a long extract from a recent letter of Mr. Cass,³¹ Secy, of State, to our Minister at Berlin,³² about the liability of naturalized citizens to compulsory service in the army of their native country, if they go back voluntarily.

In this letter Mr. Cass abandons the ground taken in his letters to LeCle[r]c³³ (a frenchman at Memphis) and Hoffer³⁴ (a German at Cinc[inna]ti.). He now holds the equality in this respect, of native and naturalised Citizens; but does it in a confused and clumsy way, as if the change in his opinion had been wrought rather by fear of the consequences, than conviction of the right.

I was grieved to see the Nat:[ional] Intel:[ligencer] support Mr. Cass' first view, and now in its comments³⁵ on his last letter (which is open to the sharpest criticism) refusing to turn with Mr. C[ass].

I have prepared a long letter (Private) to Mr. Jas. C. Welling,³⁶ assistant editor of the Nat:[ional] Intel[ligence]r., giving my views on the subject and placing the question, I think, on impregnable grounds.

Note³⁷ — Mr. Welling answered me in a very friendly letter of 5 sheets — making a very good argument, I think against our naturalization laws, but (these laws being in force) no argument at all against our duty to protect the citizanes [sic] we have made.

I have replied in the most friendly spirit, but, I think, clinching the argument on my side[.]

["KENTUCKY TO BE STRUCK FROM THE ROLL OF SOUTHERN STATES. — The Charleston Mercury says that 'if the recent meetings for the reception of Senator CRITTENDEN in Kentucky, are a reflex of the feelings and opinions of the people of that State, she may as well be stricken from the roll of Southern States.'

 

"Very well; let Kentucky be stricken from the roll of the Southern States, and let the rest of the slaveholding States that will not learn political lessons from the South Carolina Gamaliels, be stricken out too. But how much of the South will then be left?"]

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³¹ Supra, June 8, 1859, note 83.

³² These instructions to the American Minister to Prussia Joseph A. Wright, July 8, 1859, may be found in the archives of the State Department.

³³ See supra, June 8, 1859.

³⁴ Secretary of State Cass to Mr. Hoffer of Cincinnati, June 14, 1859, in the archives of the State Department.

³⁵ July 16, 1859.

³⁶ Supra, June 20, 1859, note 3.

³⁷ Inserted later.

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, pp. 33-4

Diary of Edward Bates, Saturday, July 23, 1859

Revd. Mr. Nicholson (Methodist) now of Hamilton. 0.[hio] late of Baltimore, came to my office, introduced by Mr. Keith, to talk about the Am[erica]n. Colonization Society, of which he is Gen[era]1. Agent.

He wants to get up a meeting, in hopes to revive a spirit in favor of the Society, now grown languid, almost to atrophy.

Late in the evening — too late for business, being detained at my office professionally — Attended a meeting of the Trustees of the City University, to meet Revd. Dr. Wines,³⁸ but did not see the Dr. as he had left before my arrival. It seems that a com [mitt] ee. had been appointed — Judge H. R. Gamble³⁹ and Revd. Dr. McPheeters⁴⁰ — to try to procure a President for the C.[ity] University]. They, it seems, had spoken to Dr. Wines and got him to come out and examine for himself.

I asked what was the present condition of the Institution — Mr. Gill said "We are out of debt[.]" — I suppose there is no endowment, and no income. Someone — perhaps Dr. W. M. McPheeters⁴¹ — said it was the intention to open a subscription in all the Churches in the City concerned in the enterprise — Old School Presbyterian — with a view to get $2000 from each church, as a temporary endowment, so as to induce Dr. Wines to assume the control, and build up the University by his personal efforts.

The house itself (NE corner Pine and 16th.) is large and well built, but has no ground attached, only a little paved back yard. An excellent house for a preparatory Grammar School. But as the beginning of an University, a mere futility.

I have had no great hopes of the Institution ever since the managers determined to stick it down on a little lot in the thick of the City, to enable 'the boys' to walk conveniently from their fathers' houses to school! I told them, in public meeting, some two or three years ago, that by those means, they might possibly succeed in making a pretty good preparatory school for young boys (which was not the thing we proposed to make) but a first class University (which we did design to make) never.

The $1000 which I subscribed and paid towards the University, is the only voluntary contribution which I ever begrudged, and that only because it seems to me perverted from its object.

I dont [sic] expect to subscribe any more.

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³⁸ See infra, July 25, 1859.

³⁹ Hamilton R. Gamble, of Missouri: old-time Whig; brother-in-law of Mrs. Bates; one-time law partner of Mr. Bates; judge of the Missouri Supreme Court. 1850-1854; author of a dissenting opinion in the Dred Scott case in the state court; a strong advocate of the Union in Missouri at the outbreak of the Civil War; Conservative Unionist war governor of Missouri from June, 1861, until his death in January, 1864.

⁴⁰ Supra, April 24, 1859, note 24.

⁴¹ A prominent St. Louis physician, at this time surgeon of the U. S. Marine Hospital and an editor of the St. Louis Medical and Surgical Journal. North-Carolina-bred, he joined the Confederate Army as a surgeon when the Civil War came.

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, pp. 34-5

Diary of Edward Bates, Monday, July 25, 1859

By invitation supped at Mr. Bishop's⁴² in company with Revd. Dr. Wines⁴³ (a professor in Washington College Pa.) who visits St Louis preparatory to the organization of the City University (old school Presbyterian) it being intended to offer him the presidency. I like his appearance very well. He seems to be a plain, solid man, and he has a high reputation for learning.

There were present also Revd. Dr. McPheeters⁴⁴ — and Mr. Bishop's two neighbors [sic], Mr. Brown and Dr. Johnson — I never saw Dr. J[ohnson] before, tho' he tells me he has lived in the City 8 years — Also Mr. Davis, the young gentleman who preaches in our pulpit, though not licenced to preach.⁴⁵ Before, he came in, we — Drs. Wines and McPheeters, Mr. Bishop and I — were conversing on the subject, and all of us agreed that it was entirely irregular and against the laws of the church. Mr. Bishop said that the session invited Mr. Davis entirely at the instance of Dr. Anderson, and that that [sic] the Session presumed of course, that Mr. D.[avis] was licenced.

After Mr. D.[avis] came, the topic was renewed, and he, at first, seemed very confident that it was right — we, some of us, said it was irregular &c — He asked emphatically, who was to blame — I answered, the Session, for inviting a man to preach in our pulpit without knowing that he was licenced (I did not say, as perhaps I ought, you, for accepting the invitation and assuming the place of our pastor, knowing that you were not authorised to preach, by any church judicature[.])[.] He asked, are they to be blamed for their ignorance? I answered, yes certainly — when knowledge is a duty, ignorance is a crime — He acquiesced in that and remained silent — I added only, I am afraid that the great personal merits of Mr. Davis will make us submit to a great breach of our law.

After supper, a meeting of the trustees of the City University. There was no preparation. Nobody was prepared with a plan. Every thing was at odd ends, and no unity of opinion and views. There was a "free conversation" with Dr. Wines, and a great many suggestions, but no direct proposition. After a while, a resolution was passed offering the presidency to Dr. Wines, at a salary of $3000 — and then I left — Dick driving me thro' the dark, home by 11. p. m[.]

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⁴² See supra, July 17, 1859.

⁴³ Enoch C. Wines : for many years a teacher; then a Presbyterian minister; professor of ancient languages at Washington College, Pennsylvania. When the City University failed and was abandoned in 1861, he accepted the secretaryship of the New York Prison Association and became a penologist of note.

⁴⁴ Supra, April 24, 1859, note 24.

⁴⁵ See supra, July 17, 1859.

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, pp. 35-6

Diary of Edward Bates, Tuesday, July 26, 1859

. . . Mr. Bullard of Boston, brother of the late Revd. Dr. Bullard,⁴⁶ introduced by Dr. Jno. B. Johnson.⁴⁷

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⁴⁶ Artemas Bullard, agent of the Massachusetts Sunday-School Union, 1828-1834; Mississippi Valley agent of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, 1834— 1838; minister of the First Presbyterian Church in St. Louis from 1838 until killed in a railroad accident in 1855.

⁴⁷ A Massachusetts-trained physician of St. Louis, professor in the St. Louis Medical College (Washington University), a founder (1847) and vice-president (1850) of the National Medical Association.

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, p. 36

Diary of Edward Bates, July 27, 1859

A bright day, pleasantly cool — On going in to the office [I] found on my desk, the card of Wm. G Bates⁴⁸ of Massts. — He called to see me (with Capt: Bissell) telling Dick that he was a couzen [sic] of my old friend I. C. Bates⁴⁹ of Northampton, and that he wished to see me, partly on that account, and partly for my politics [.]

. . .

Colfax. Recd, a letter today, from Mr. Colfax⁵⁰ who expresses himself much pleased with my long letter, amended in its phraseology in some particulars, as suggested by him; and he asks leave to shew the letter to Mr. C. A Dana ⁵¹ of the Tribune. Of course, I have no objection; my letter, tho' not written for publication, is not secret.

He also encloses, for my inspection, a letter from Mr. Dana to him, by which I find that D.[ana] prefers Chase⁵² to Seward — (but does not want either) as a candidate for the Presidency — and enquires, with apparent interest, about the present condition of "the Bates movement." Dana says — "If B.[ates] can be put forward as a representative of the emancipation cause in Missouri he will be the strongest candidate we can have. With any other man we shall have the Fillmore split over again [.] "

<Note this letter from D.[ana] to C.[olfax] is dated July 10[.] > About the same time Colfax wrote to Gibson,⁵³ and sent him, among other things, a letter from Mr. Bowles,⁵⁴ editor of the Springfield Republican (Massts.) to him, C[olfax]. [          ] Bowles, I believe, is in full concert with the Tribune of N. York, and Colfax, Defrese ⁵⁵ and other party leaders in the North West, to bring me out as the candidate of the Republicans. They are all afraid of Seward — they have personal objections doubtless, but their main ground is their full conviction that with Mr. S.[eward] for their candidate defeat, is inevitable.⁵⁶ And they seem to think, that if S.[eward] is not nominated, his friends will take care that neither Bankes⁵⁷ nor Chase, nor any other Republican shall be. In that event, they think me the most available candidate — the only man in fact, who, getting the Republican vote, can also secure the general support of the Americans and Whigs. Some of them tell me that Mr. Weed⁵⁸ (who is understood to be Mr. Seward's " master of the horse " in N. Y.) goes for me, second.

Mr. Bowles says in his letter, that my N.[ew] Y.[ork] letter⁵⁹ "ought not to have been written." As a measure of policy, I differ from him widely.

1. It is satisfactory to the real economists every where[.]

2. It pleases the manufacturers, who need protection, especially in Pa.

3. It is agreeable to all the old whigs.

4. It is not offensive to the Americans at the South, very pleasing to those of the North.

5. It is rank poison to the proslavists of the South, and by resisting their propagandism — and hence, conciliatory to all their enemies.

6. The objection of Mr. Bowles, and other leading Republicans to my denunciation of slavery agitation, is, in my judgment, a positive advantage.

1. It keeps me separated from the Republican party, and yet not so far removed as to prevent their support: 2d. It allays the prejudices of Whigs and Americans farther south, who might not be willing to support any man who was fully identified with the Republican party. 3. It gives to the whole letter an air of courage and sincerity which may tend to beget a general feeling favorable to the writer, and especially among the multitude who are now disgusted with the frauds and mismanagement of all the parties [.]

["The Presidency in I860."⁶⁰

 

"In this week's issue we run up the name of Hon. Edward Bates, of Missouri, for President in 1860; subject to the decision of the Union Convention.

 

"It is useless for us to eulogise Edward Bates ; he is too well and favorably known to the whole nation, for us to attempt to add anything to the lustre of his character. He is the man to lead on to victory the columns of the mighty 'Union Party,' that is daily gathering strength all over the country. With him at our head, we can break up, and disband the two pernicious and sectional parties, the Democratic and the Republican, whose strife and wrangling over mere abstractions, have brought us several times upon the very verge of civil war.

 

"Edward Bates, is an eminently conservative man, and if elevated to the high position of Chief Magistrate of the Nation, will administer the government upon those truly national principles which actuated the earlier Presidents.

 

"Should Edward Bates be nominated, we feel assured that the Union men of Missouri will exert themselves to secure his election, as patriots should do when their country is in danger."]

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⁴⁸ A lawyer of Westfield, Massachusetts; Whig state senator, 1841; member of Governor Briggs's Council, 1844-1845.

⁴⁹ Isaac C. Bates: anti-Jackson Democratic congressman, 1827-1835 ; Whig U. S. senator from Massachusetts from 1841 until his death in 1845.

⁵⁰ Supra, April 27, 1S59, note 28.

⁵¹ Charles A. Dana: assistant to Greeley on the New York Tribune, 1847-1862; special commissioner of the War Department, 1862-1863; assistant secretary of War, 1863-1865; later, editor of the New York Sun. He was an ardent war-time supporter of Lincoln, then a bitter enemy of Johnsonian restoration, but finally a Liberal Republican seeking reform of Grantisms. In 1859 he was still in complete sympathy with Greeley.

⁵² Infra, March 5, 1861, note 27. Chase, a perennial aspirant to the Presidency was really in 1859 a leading candidate for the Republican nomination, but lost it. partly because his own state was not united in his support and partly because he. like Seward, was too extreme on slavery to win moderate votes.

⁵³ Supra, April 27, 1859, note 27.

⁵⁴ Samuel Bowles — anti-slavery leader, strong supporter of Lincoln against the Radical Republicans, advocate of moderation toward the South — made his Springfield Republican one of the most powerful influences in the North.

⁵⁵ John D. Defrees of Indiana: lawyer and state legislator ; first chairman of the Indiana Republican State Committee, 1856-1860 ; editor of the Indianapolis State Journal. He must, in the end, have supported Lincoln's candidacy, for Lincoln appointed him government printer in 1861.

⁵⁶ See supra, April 27, 1859, note 30.

⁵⁷ Nathaniel P. Banks of Massachusetts: Democratic congressman, 1853-1855; American Party congressman and speaker of the House, 1855-1857; Republican congressman, 1857, 1865-1873, 1875-1879, 1889-1891 ; governor of Massachusetts, 1858-1861 ; president of the Illinois Central Railroad, 1861; major-general of volunteers, who served in Maryland, in the Shenandoah, at Vicksburg, in Louisiana, and in Texas, 1861-1865. As a former Know-Nothing, he was more "available " in 1860 than Seward whom the Know-Nothings hated.

⁵⁸ Thurlow Weed: editor of the Albany Evening Journal; for years the most powerful political figure in New York politics; one of the early managers of the National Republican Party. At this time he was managing Seward's campaign for the Republican nomination.

⁵⁹ See supra, 1-9.

⁶⁰ A clipping from the Louisiana (Missouri) Journal of July 25, 1859.

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, pp. 36-8

Diary of Edward Bates, Saturday, July 30, 1859

Coalter and Woodson came home today, after a visit of several weeks to Dardenne prairie.⁶¹ They came down in Barton's little wagon, bringing Onward⁶² with them, and have promised to take him home in a few days. Caroline⁶³ sent us a number of good things for the table — Bacon, Lard, Meat[.]

Mr. Welling⁶⁴ This evening I recd, a long letter from J. C. Welling (actual editor of the Nat:[ional] Intel [ligence]r.) in answer to mine to him, on the, now, much mooted question of the status of our naturalized citizens, and their liability to compulsory military service, if, for any reason, they return voluntarily to their native country. He had taken ground with Secy. Cass' first letters,⁶⁵ and asserts, — and goes far to prove, by the letters of Sec.y.s Marcy⁶⁶ and Webster⁶⁷ — that the liability continues. I the contrary. But we concur entirely, in contempt for Mr. Cass, on account of his sudden change (with the whole Adm[inistratio]n.) through fear of popular opinion.

Cass. Poor Cass! He clings to office with the tenacity of a drowning man, and under the most humiliating circumstances. His character as a Statesman, as a Publicist, as a constitutional lawyer, dont [sic] weigh a feather in the scale against the honors and emoluments of Office: His personal consistency and self-respect are sacrificed without a scruple, to get or to retain a place, under any President, upon any doctrines, and with any associates in power.

[A clipping from the Missouri Republican of July 30, 1859, quoting from the New York Express the facts that in Georgia all Whigs had received five out of six of the Democratic nominations for Congress.']

Whigs lead the Democrats.

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⁶¹ A prairie in St. Charles County about thirty miles northwest of St. Louis on which the village of Dardenne grew up. Here lived Mr. Bates's eldest son. Barton, and also the Woodsons — his cousins — and many of his oldest friends. He himself, had lived on a farm on the prairie from 1828 until 1842.

⁶² Mr. Bates's eldest grandchild. Barton's son. See supra, "Introduction."

⁶³ Mrs. Barton Bates.

⁶⁴ Supra, June 20, 1859, note 3.

⁶⁵ Supra, June 8, 1859.

⁶⁸ William L. Marcy of New York, Democratic secretary of State under President Pierce, 1853-1857. For Marcy's views on naturalization see Secretary of State Marcy to Mr. Daniel in Italy, Nov. 10, 1855, and Marcy to Mr. Florence, Feb. 17, 1857, in the State Department archives. See also Francis Wharton, A Digest of the International Law of the United States, II, 386.

⁶⁷ No outstanding cases arose under Daniel Webster's secretaryship of State, 1850-1852.

SOURCE: Howard K. Beale, Editor, Annual Report of The American Historical Association For The Year 1930, Vol. 4, The Diary Of Edward Bates, pp. 38-9

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Friday, February 1, 1861

Fine cool morning, M: 24 — warmer and misty the latter part of day. Got measured for new black coat. Paid some Bills & small note at Bank. Willie has been quite ill. I came home from the office at 1'o'ck. He is much better tonight. The day has passed off much as yesterday. Two more companys of U.S. Soldiers came today. One is quartered on E St. near pa^t & post offices. The other in west part of the City. There are many “Secessionists” or Disunionists among the Citizens here. It is my opinion that the District Militia would prove, in case of need, a poor support for the Gov^t to rely upon. Have spent the evening at home with the boys in various amusements.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C., image 14.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Saturday, February 2, 1861

Foggy and misty day with water driping from roofs all the time. A Salute of 34 guns was fired today at noon at the Armory on account of the Admission of Kansas into the Union. Many of the Citizens who did not know the cause of the firing were much alarmed thinking that the “fighting” had commenced. No particular news today. More talk now of an attack upon Forts Sumpter & Pickens now held by U.S. troops. In Congress the Republicans are giving ground for the sake of peace. The Peace Convention invited by Virginia meets Monday the 4^th. Did not go down to the Av^e tonight.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C., image 14.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Sunday, February 3, 1861

A little frozen this morning, but warm the rest of the day with plenty of mud. Wife and boys went to church. I did not go out till evening. Was in at “Willards” Hotel. Quite full of eastern and northern men. Was introduced to ex Gov Gardner of Mass. Very young man for an ex Governor. The “Peace Congress” meets tomorrow. Most of the Delegates are here. It is said that Virginia will demand as a preliminary that the U.S. troops now in this City be immediately withdrawn and that no State that “Secedes” shall be coerced. If such be the case it will make trouble & Virginia herself will be ignored altho she first called for the convention. It cannot mean Peace.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C., image 15.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Monday, February 4, 1861

The Peace Convention met today but all the Delegates had not arrived and but little was done. The ground was covered with snow again this morning, but nearly melted off during the day. Schuyler Colfax M.C. was at my table in the office attending to a “case.” At Willards tonight I met J F Starbuck of Watertown NY and his new wife. Spent an hour in their room in the Hotel. He was Clerk in the Constitutional Conv'ⁿ NY,1846. Willards Hotel is now about full and the Av'e is much crowded during the day. The Election for Delegates to State Convention takes place in Virginia today.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C., image 15.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Tuesday, February 5, 1861

The Unionists carried the State Virginia yesterday by a large majority and everyone has felt better today. I think the Secession Movement has reached its climax and a re-action will now take place, but perhaps the wish is Father to the thought. The Chief Engineer of U.S. Navy was with me an hour or two today in the office, had long conversation upon Steam and Steam Engines. He is a knowing man. Bot H N J^r suit of clothes tonight. Was in at Willards and saw numerous friends and almost innumerable strangers. Weather pleasant.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C., image 15.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Wednesday, February 6, 1861

A pleasant day overhead but muddy under foot. W^m H [Burridge or Burniage?] of Cleveland Ohio dined with us today, Cha^s also. Public affairs look brighter than they did before the Virginia Election. The Peace convention now in Session here sit with closed doors, but as far as known everything with regard to it looks favorable to an adjustment. Had letter today from Brother C R. He will start for Washington 1^st day of March. Did not go down to the Ave'^e tonight. Willie was learning from me how to write his name and to add up figures. The other boys, Halsey & H N, are drawing.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C., image 16.

Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, Thursday, February 7, 1861

The morning was bright with a fine and cool atmosphere, just freezing, but tonight the wind blows almost a hurricane. I like almost any kind of weather better than a cold wind, consequently I have not gone out tonight. Nothing of importance has occured today. More U S troops have arrived and the idea of taking Washington will I think be abandoned by all who have been so disposed heretofore. Had letters today from Julia and from [S A Dewey or Ducey?]. Sent off ten copies of Agricultural Report of P^t office to friends in different States north. Rejected a case which Hon Schuyler Colfax M.C. has in charge. The “Peace Convention” promises good results.

SOURCE: Horatio Nelson Taft, The Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft, 1861-1865. Volume 1, January 1,1861-April 11, 1862, Library of Congress, Manuscript Division, Washington D. C., image 16.